Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

Sounding more and more like I should get one.

I want 50 total---about 40 more than I got---LOL.

 

[n3kms]

My hubby might get kind of nervous with the first one.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, that's another good use for an incubator if she can raise even more than she can hatch. Sounding more and more like I should get one.

What did you ever decide about the incubator?

I've thought of upgrading my emergency ones (whcih are two very pathetic little incubators that are not very efficient...but work well as ICU's)...but I don't want a large one as I want to hatch and foster with hens only....I'm NOT going to set 24 to 48 eggs...and don't the little ones succumb to inefficiency (no better off than I am now???)

Just curious.
Lady of McCamley

 

[n3kms]

Well, I was just looking at those JN incubators. There is a 12 size that is fairly inexpensive on eBay. I guess that would do in an emergency.

 

[A6chickenhome]

I put 7 or 8  regular eggs under my game hens(some are a little bigger than others). I might could put more but they cover that amount good.

I know we have talked about this before, so bear with me..... I'm starting a new flock of Belgium Maline(huge birds that lay huge eggs)in the spring. I'm thinking of buying some of these game hens as working broody hens in my flock. I'm just wondering if they can handle raising birds that are so big compared to them? The Malines have been dubbed "gentle giants", but I just witnessed how pushy chicks can be when they want mommas attention with my last hatch. Do you think I should try to find large breed broodies?

 

[fisherlady]

I know we have talked about this before, so bear with me..... I'm starting a new flock of Belgium Maline(huge birds that lay huge eggs)in the spring. I'm thinking of buying some of these game hens as working broody hens in my flock. I'm just wondering if they can handle raising birds that are so big compared to them? The Malines have been dubbed "gentle giants", but I just witnessed how pushy chicks can be when they want mommas attention with my last hatch. Do you think I should try to find large breed broodies?

I am not familiar with the Belgiums, but I can say that my smallest broody does quite well with her large fowl chicks for at least a few weeks, but if the weather is very cold at brood time she would need help keeping them warm after week 3 or so if she has more than 3 to worry about. During warmer weather she is quite capable of marching around 6 or 8 chicks and keeping them strictly in line, she is NOT a pushover! LOL So much of the hen's ability could hinge as much on environmental issues as anything else... and you would have to restrict #s of both eggs and chicks for the hens at some times to keep it workable for the hen without stressing her out.

If you want to use smaller hens as broodies then you would have to consider keeping more of them and keeping their clutch size managable and that could cause logistical issues if your coop set up has restricted space and you want to separate the broodies (not as much of an issue if you allow the hen to brood in the coop with the flock without separations) If you want to hatch out larger quantities of chicks then these restrictions could become problematic.

LF broodies have their own drawbacks, primarily being that they can easily break eggs during the brooding period, that isn't always the case but it does happen. This isn't every LF broody, but it is something to consider.

 

[A6chickenhome]

I am not familiar with the Belgiums, but I can say that my smallest broody does quite well with her large fowl chicks for at least a few weeks, but if the weather is very cold at brood time she would need help keeping them warm after week 3 or so if she has more than 3 to worry about. During warmer weather she is quite capable of marching around 6 or 8 chicks and keeping them strictly in line, she is NOT a pushover! LOL So much of the hen's ability could hinge as much on environmental issues as anything else... and you would have to restrict #s of both eggs and chicks for the hens at some times to keep it workable for the hen without stressing her out. 

If you want to use smaller hens as broodies then you would have to consider keeping more of them and keeping their clutch size managable and that could cause logistical issues if your coop set up has restricted space and you want to separate the broodies (not as much of an issue if you allow the hen to brood in the coop with the flock without separations) If you want to hatch out larger quantities of chicks then these restrictions could become problematic.

LF broodies have their own drawbacks, primarily being that they can easily break eggs during the brooding period, that isn't always the case but it does happen.  This isn't every LF broody, but it is something to consider. 

I'm thinking I should maybe get some Orpingtons, as I know there is a lot of broodiness in that breed. I don't think I wanna have so many batches going all the time.

 

[thechxwhisperer]

My Rhode Island Red is Broody!!!!

Yay!!!! I slipped 5 eggs in a nesting box and she has been broody ever since! She is old and can't lay eggs anymore, but she loves to sit on the nest!

 

[fisherlady]

I'm thinking I should maybe get some Orpingtons, as I know there is a lot of broodiness in that breed. I don't think I wanna have so many batches going all the time.

You may want to consider some mid-sized birds also, check into the cochins, both banty and full size.... my line of Plymouth Rocks tends to broodiness and though they are LF they certainly aren't as big as orpingtons. Silkies and English Games are very small, and their tiny size does cause restrictions, but you shouldn't have to go to the extremely large size to get hens who can hatch a nice size clutch for you.

Whatever breed you do decide on you want to question whoever you source it from to see how the broodiness is of their stock, different strains of the same breed can be night and day for broody tendencies (and personalities) so specific questioning of the breeders is needed to make sure you invest in birds which are really suiting your needs.

 

[A6chickenhome]

My Rhode Island Red is Broody!!!! Yay!!!!  I slipped 5 eggs in a nesting box and she has been broody ever since!  She is old and can't lay eggs anymore, but she loves to sit on the nest!

Wow, good for you! I didn't think the went broody?